The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1887-06-11
BOUND TO SUCCEED.

Pluck was the son of a poor Bulga-
rian shepherd-not an American boy
as one would imagine from his name.
| called him Pluck because it was so
characteristic of the boy, and because
could not recall the Bulgarian name
DR.. Hamlin gave me. A little hut in
Bulgaria made of mud and stones was
Pluck's home; and his father was so
poor that he could hardly get food
enough for his large family. Their
clothes cost little, rs they all wore
sheep-skins, made up with the wool
outside. Just imagine how funny
flock of two-legged sheep would look.
Pluck was u bright, ambitious boy,
with great desire for study. And
when he heard of Robert College at
Constantinople, he determined to 90
there So he told his father one day,
when they were away together tending
sheep, that he had decided to go to
college. The poor shepherd looked at
his son in amazement, and said;
"You can't go to college; it's all l
can do to feed you children; l can't
give you a piastre."
81 don't want piastre," Pluck re-
plied ''but l do want to 90 to col
lege."
Besides" the shepherd continued,
"you can't go to college in sheep
skins"
But Pluck had made up his mind,
and he went-in sheep-skins and with
out piastre. 1t was weary march
of one hundred and fifty miles to Con-
stantinople, but theoboy was willing to
do any thing for an education. He
found kind friends all along the way,
who gave him food and shelter at
night. So Pluck trudged sturdilv on
day after day until he reached Con-
stantinople. As he was not one to let
the grass grow under his feet, he soon
found his way to the college, went into
the kitchen and inquired for the presi-
dent
Pluck asked for work; but the presi-
dent kindly told him there was none,
and that he must go away. "Oh, no."
Pluck said, ~ can't do that [ didn't
come here to go away" When the
president insisted, Pluck's answer was
the same: l didn't come here to 90
away"
He had no idea of giving up. "The
King of France, with forty thousand
men went up hill, and so came down
again" but it was no part of Pluck's
plan to 60 marching home again. And
three hours later the president saw
him in the yard patiently waiting.
Some of the students advised Pluck
to see Prof. Long. He knows all
about you Bulgarian fellows" The
professor, like the president, said
there was no work for him and he had
better 90 away. But Pluck bravely
stuck to his text: 81 didn't come here
to 90 away"
The boys courage and perseverance
pleased the professor so much that he
urged the president to give Pluck a
trial. So it was decided that he should
take care of the fires. That meant
carrying wood, and great deal of it,
up three or four flights of stairs; tax
ing away the ashes, and keeping all the
things neat and in order.
The president thought he would
soon get tired of such hard work. But
a boy who had walked hundred and
fifty miles for the sake of an education,
and was not ashamed to go to college
in sheep-skins and without piastre,
would not easily be discouraged.
After few days, rs Pluck showed no
signs of "weakening," the president
went to him and said: "My poor boy,
you can not stay here this winter. This
room is not comfortable, and | have no
other to give you.
ooh, I'm perfectly satisfied" Pluck
replied ats the best room l ever
had in my life. l didn't come here to
90 away"
Evidently there was no getting rid of
Pluck, and he was allowed to stay.
After he gained his point he settled
down to business, and asked some of
the students to help him with his les
sons in the evenings. They formed II
syndicate of six. That was good old
DR.. Hamlin's way, 50 none of the boys
found it burden to help Pluck one
evening in a week. 1t was a success
on both sides, the boys were patient
and kind, and Pluck was as painstak-
ing and persevering in his lessons as in
other things, so that he made great
progress.
After some weeks he asked to be ex-
ami ed to enter the preparatory class,
"Do you expect" asked the presi-
dent, "to compete with those boys who
I have many weeks the start of you?